“I practiced this walk for weeks,” she said, looking down the empty path.

“I never actually got to finish it.”

“Would you like to finish it right now?” I asked.

She hesitated, then reached into the basket and pulled out a handful of silk rose petals that had stayed tucked inside all this time.

We linked arms and walked slowly toward the wooden arbor while she scattered the petals along the path.

No guests watched us.

No music told our steps what to do.